looking for the best handbook in mechanical engineering

[MGV]

I am looking for a Handbook in Mechanical Engineering, to use as a reference book in my job. I know about Mark's and Mayer Kutz, but I don't know which is better. Mayer Kutz is more expensive than Mark's. I want one book which cover all the aspects related to Mechanical engineering in a friendly way.
If you have an advise for me I will appreciate a lot
Thanks MGV

 

[butelja]

I find Machinery's Handbook more indespensible than Mark's.

 

[svanels]

The to find the best handbook in mechanical engineering is very difficult, you will have at least 40 opinions.
Mechanical Engineering is a very broad field. I personally like reference books in a specified field.
Telling a little about your job could help us.

Regards Steven van Els
SAvanEls@cq-link.sr

 

[ksuengrng]

I agree with both butelja and svanels. Machinery's is one book not to be without, regardless of your field. I would like to add one to this and that would be Roark's Formula's for Stress and Strain.

However, Finding the "best" book in your specific field would be much easier. For the tank and pressure vessel industry, I rely on books by Bednar and Megyesy, along with the AISC books, and structural books by Gaylord and Roark's. (Along with about 150 others.)

A side note to this discussion would be that ebay is an excellent place to build up your professional library, if you do not mind used books, and some times older books.

Scott

 

[wroberts]

Machinery's, is good, Mark's is good. But I'd also get older versions (20's-40's) of them, as they often contain information that the new ones no longer cover. I love my 11th edition Machinery's, and 4th edition Mark's. But get the new ones too, and check there first, then break out the old ones after you can't find what you're looking for.
One that I would add to the list is "Standard Handbook of Machine Design" by Shigley and Mischke. The handbook is better than the machine design book you'll study in school. Thers also a "standard handbook of engineering calculations", it's on my personal wish list.
Will

 

[Jonkatz]

I have found the the Standard Handbook of Engineering Calculations" by HICKS to be quite useful. IT covers Such a broad range of topics, you can find a great deal of info in it.
thanks for the idea ksuengrng, I never thought to check e-bay for engineering books.
-j. katz

 

[eureka]

Another source for out of print books is:

http://www.bookfinder.com

 

[ivymike]

I agree that MHB and Roark's are both excellent handbooks. I recommend that you get MHB on cd-rom - it's much easier to search, and you can print out pages as needed.

One thing that I don't like about Mark's is that many of the formulae are unit-specific. I'd much rather have general eqns (and carry the units on my own), because I frequently use MathCad for my computations.

 

[dgallagher]

Old faithfull that I have found useful over the years is Delaval Engineering Handbook published by McGraw Hill. Primary focus is for engineers working with rotating machinery.

 

[MJCronin]

MGV,

Sorry, your question cannot be answered without something more specific....

What particular flavor of mechanical engineering will you be involved with ? Different books for different people ?

I love my Crane TP#410 and have worn out copies with frequent use. But its not for everybody. All of the books mentioned above are good, and I have bought them all....... but do not use them all.

just some thoughts.....


MJC

 

[jusumguy]

Machinery's Handbook is near the top. I have several editions from 19 to 25. But for an all-inclusive single reference you can't beat the CRC Physics Handbook! Far better than Mark's which has turned to fodder since the eighth edition. I also like the CRC Measurement, Instrumentation and Sensors Handbook which is a great recent reference and is invaluable to supplement an older personal library with state-of-the-art updated material.

 

[soupsamich]

For a basic handbook I use the "Engineer in training reference manual" by Michael R Lindeburg. It is a preperation manual for the PE and covers alot of topics, some in more detail than others.

 

[Curmudgeon]

One more vote here for Machinery's Handbook - - it is an indispensible book for 'every-day' engineering. All those formulas that you vaguely recall from that class of 10 years ago, that you only used twice - but suddenly need immediately. Unfortunately, I have found several errors in MHB - the one I have on my desk (24th ed.) and ones that others have had - - including a nasty printing error that deleted nearly 300 pages from a friend's edition...
However, if your desk only has room for one book - that's the one I would reccomend.
I would also second the nominations for Roark, Shigly & Mischke,(or in my case - Shigley and Mitchell "Mechanical Engineering Design&quot
In addition, you should NOT throw out your Beer and Johnston "Statics and Dynamics" text(s) - - I've gone back to them more than once to review a specific notion

Curmudgeon